We (Phonovectra http://www.myspace.com/phonovectra) are coming to Chicago on sunday..

We have a few days off before recording at EA... Are there any places that we just NEED to go in Chicago???

What would you suggest???

(We´re coming all the way from Denmark, and two of the guys have never been in USA before..)

i don't know what types of things you enjoy, but when i have a guest in town, we go to -

hot doug's - (restaurant) near electrical, i'm pretty sure you can find a lot of people talking about their lunches elsewhere in these forums.

reckless records - two locations, either at belmont & broadway (sort of not too far from EA) or in the wicker park neighborhood, which is near...

quimby's book store - comics and unusual publications.

the lake because it's great.

the sears tower - to go up 103 floors and see the city. very touristy, but you have to do it once in your life. costs $12, i think.

irazu - costa rican restaurant. try the veggie burrito.

jayryan wrote:i don't know what types of things you enjoy, but when i have a guest in town, we go to -

the lake because it's great.

If you head toward the lake while you are downtown, check out Millennium Park. Cloud Gate and The Crown Fountain are both pretty cool.

Oh and so is the Art Institute of Chicago. That's probably a must see.

If you need western wear while you are here I recommend alcalas. While you are there you can go down the street to rotofugi for some designer toys.

jayryan wrote:irazu - costa rican restaurant. try the veggie burrito.

And the Oatmeal Milkshake.

jayryan wrote:the sears tower - to go up 103 floors and see the city. very touristy, but you have to do it once in your life. costs $12, i think.

Jay Ryan! I respectfully disagree! the Signature room of the Hancock Building on the 95th is a much better place to go/take guests.

a) better view (especially the view down into the city and the lake michigan coastline in the north direction.

b) it's free

c) you can see the big-ass sears tower from it, which I think is a more impressive way to take the building in.

d) the restaurant/bar in the signature room, although pricey is a better way to spend $12

e) while there is often dining and drinks happening,. nobody minds if people walk around the edges and admire the views

f) the difference between 95 floors and 103 floors is almost negligible



ok!

never been to the hancock. you are probably right. for tourists, there is, of course, that "we went to the top of the tallest builing in the states" claim, but if that's not a concern, then the hancock does sound better.

if you have some time and a car, and are into gardens and nature-shit, like me, the botanic gardens in glencoe (30 minutes north of the city) are amazing.

slightly smaller is the garfield park conservatory, an insane arrangement of greenhouses and new outdoor gardens which are loacted in chicago just off the green line 'EL' (light rail train).

someone else here can probably let you know about the charms of going to wrigley field to watch the cubs lose. i haven't gone in 15 or 20 years, but i'd love to do it again some time soon.

there are, of course, lots of venues for live (rock) music - the hideout, the abbey, schubas, metro, subterranean, the empty bottle, martyrs, and a bunch of others.

bfields wrote:Oh and so is the Art Institute of Chicago. That's probably a must see.

The Museum of Contemporary Art is good too,http://www.mcachicago.org/. I like to go to the Art Institute and than walk to the Museum of Contemporary Art. And Wrigley Field is really great even though its sad to watch what takes place inside.

jayryan wrote:someone else here can probably let you know about the charms of going to wrigley field to watch the cubs lose. i haven't gone in 15 or 20 years, but i'd love to do it again some time soon

Damn, I was too late. Jay, i just went to the game on monday, and it was brutal. I think it was 95 degrees and we lost 4 to 15 I think. But still very painful and enjoyable.

Make sure you stay away from Navy Pier

Maybe this is lame, but I think I enjoyed the architectural boat tour I had to go on in highschool.

keegan monaghan wrote:The Museum of Contemporary Art is good too,http://www.mcachicago.org/.

I was going to suggest the same. Admission is very reasonable.